his
course across heathery moorland, and valley, and swamp, as rapidly as
before.

"I know this spot, surely," observed Pedro Alvarez; "it is where the
Catholic chapel stands."

"The same, friend mariner," answered Lawrence; "but we have nothing to
do with the chapel just now: keep close at my heels, or rather step
exactly where I step, or you may chance to have a tumble to the bottom
of the cliff, with a broken neck as the consequence."

Lawrence, as he spoke, reached the brow of the cliff; he slid over it,
and dropped himself down on a narrow ledge which appeared to afford
scarcely room for his feet to rest. He went on, leaning against the
side of the cliff for a short distance, and then let himself down in the
same manner that he had before done. The Spanish officer at first
hesitated to follow, but a laugh from Lawrence made him ashamed of
himself, and when he reached the first ledge, he perceived that there
were rings let into the rock, and of the same colour, which made the
operation less difficult than it had at first appeared. Three or four
ledges were thus reached in succession, and then there was a very narrow
winding path cut in the face of the cliff which led down to the very
edge of the water. Before, however, Lawrence reached the bottom, he
turned off along another ledge, when Pedro entirely lost sight of him.

Following in the same direction, however, he found himself in front of a
cave; the entrance was so small, that at a distance it could scarcely be
perceived, but on looking in he saw that it expanded into a chamber of
considerable dimensions.

"Come in, friend mariner, and survey my marine abode," exclaimed
Lawrence from within.

A few rough steps enabled him to enter, and he discovered that the cave
was not only large, but that it contained a bed and table, some stools
and several chests, and casks, and bales, besides sails and coils of
rope, and spars, and pieces of wreck; indeed, it had somewhat the
appearance of a marine store, so various were the articles collected in
it.

As he entered he was saluted by a low, fierce growl, and he saw in
rather unpleasant proximity to his legs the savage jaws of Surly Grind,
wide expanded in readiness to seize him. A word, however, from his
master, sent him growling back to his couch at the further end of the
cave.

"Never fear the dog; he is the guardian genius of the place, and is in
duty bound to defend it against the approach of animated vis